Blueshirts' 2011 fifth-round draft pick begins his pro career next season

New York Rangers President and General Manager Glen Sather announced today that the club has agreed to terms with defenseman Samuel Noreau.

Samuel Noreau

Noreau, 20, skated in 66 games with Baie-Comeau of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL) last season, registering seven goals and 25 assists for a total of 32 points, along with 64 penalty minutes and a plus-19 rating.

He established a career-high in goals, assists, points, and plus-minus rating. Noreau posted a career-best, four-game point streak, on two occasions -- November 9 at Rouyn-Noranda to November 14 vs. Shawinigan (two goals, five assists over the span) and January 11 vs. Rouyn-Noranda to January 20 vs. Shawinigan (four assists over the span). Noreau also skated in 15 playoff games, tallying two goals, one assist and 12 penalty minutes. He notched his first career postseason goal on April 8 at Victoriaville.

The 6-5, 220-pounder registered 18 goals and 45 assists for 63 points, along with 314 penalty minutes in 225 career QMJHL games over four seasons with Baie-Comeau. In 2011-12, Noreau ranked third among Baie-Comeau defensemen in goals (five) and fourth in points (17). He made his QMJHL debut on November 8 vs. Victoriaville and registered his first career point with an assist on January 29 at Shawinigan.

The Montreal, Quebec native was selected by the Rangers in the fifth round, 136th overall, in the 2011 NHL Entry Draft.